Postponed beats Eagle Top to claim King George at Ascot
- Published
Postponed (left) won by a nose on the line from Eagle Top (red)
Postponed edged a thrilling finish to hold off Eagle Top in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
The Luca Cumani-trained four-year-old, under jockey Andrea Atzeni, won the Group One by a nose at odds of 6-1.
Eagle Top, the pre-race favourite at 5-2, was ridden by Frankie Dettori and briefly led as the two horses pulled clear in the nine-strong field.
Cumani said: "They were locked together in battle and I didn't know who won. Andrea gave him a peach of a ride."
BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght |
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"There's little doubt that the absence of Golden Horn meant this King George wasn't the classiest of all-time, but Postponed and Eagle Top filled the 'class gap' with a humdinger of a finish. |
"Having had a right old barging match when third and second respectively in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, this was much cleaner though Atzeni (6 days) and Dettori (4 days) did both receive whip bans. |
"Luca Cumani in particular couldn't hide his delight at a well-deserved King George win after several near-misses." |
Dettori's initial ride - Derby and Eclipse winner Golden Horn - was pulled out of the race due to ground conditions and Cumani admitted he was unsure if the soft going would suit his charge.
Atzeni said: "Fair play to the owner, if that was me I would never have run him on that ground. He stays well and he's got a big heart.
"I thought Frankie was going to get to me, but this fellow doesn't give up."
- Published25 July 2015
- Attribution
- Published24 July 2015
- Published21 December 2018
